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Harare: Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer's six-wicket haul powered Zimbabwe to a comfortable 86-run victory over Kenya on Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Cremer's 6/46 completed a man-of-the-match performance after scoring 31 as Zimbabwe reached 263/7 at the Harare Sports Club. The Kenyans were then bowled out for 174.
Cremer, who totaled 15 wickets in a 5-0 away sweep of Kenya earlier this year, troubled the visitors with his variation and sharp spin. He removed the dangerous opener David Obuya for 49, Steve Tikolo (19), captain Maurice Ouma (31), Collins Obuya (23), Lameck Onyango (17) and Elijah Otieno for a duck.
"They (Kenya) are not the best players of spin, but you still have to bowl well," Cremer said. "I'm quite happy with my bowling, the wicket was spinning and it was good to bowl on."
Zimbabwe's spinners were particularly impressive with captain and off spinner Prosper Utseya claiming 3/29.
Earlier, Kenya's improved bowling had had restricted Zimbabwe to 263.
Left-arm spinner Hiren Varaiya excelled with three wickets for 38 runs to give the visiting team a chance of leveling the series.
Number six Stuart Matsikenyeri top-scored with a workmanlike 71, holding together the home side's innings.
Zimbabwe had slumped to 123/4 before Matsikenyeri hit two fours and two sixes in an unbeaten seventh-wicket stand of 65 with Cremer. Cremer hit a brisk 31 off 19 balls.
Kenya coach Eldine Baptiste, the former West Indies international, said his side lacked the knockout punch to finish off the Zimbabweans.
"Even if you have the talent, is still the execution that matters and haven't got that," Baptiste said. "The guys are on a learning curve and I'm sure they will learn quickly. The difference is the partnerships."
Brief score
Zimbabwe: 263 for 7 (Masakadza 66, Matsikenyeri 71*)
Kenya: 177 (Obuya 49, Cremer 6-46)
Result; Zimbabwe won by 86 runs
MOM: Graeme Cremer (Zimbabwe)
